Ronin and Karda walked to a corner of the lawn.

"Thank you for helping me out of that situation."

This commoner Knight, who had just been mocked, was perfectly calm. It seemed the recent events hadn’t affected his mood at all.

"Who were those people just now?" Ronin asked.

"That was Griffin Wailun, the eldest son of the Viscount of Maple Ridge. His family runs a clothing business and owns vast flax fields. They produce many of the formal outfits for the nobility."

Karda knew the man’s background well. "He’s the one Luther Viscount has his eye on."

Ronin pursed his lips. "He’s not good enough for Missy Knight."

"I think so too."

Karda smiled, looking at Ronin seriously for the first time. This young man, even younger than himself, possessed a character and style that he couldn’t quite figure out.

"I saw Luther Viscount approach you just now. So, what is your decision?"

Ronin laughed heartily. "Luther values the short-term, but I value the long-term. Karda, my opinion of you hasn’t changed. I still hope you’ll join my territory. The Wubei Territory has what you need."

Karda took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "I have no objections to the terms you offered before, but I hope to become an Honorary Knight before I turn twenty-eight. Of course, I will offer my loyalty and strength in return."

"No problem!"

Ronin agreed without hesitation.

Granting a fief in the Wubei Territory and ennobling someone was something he’d need to consider carefully, but bestowing the title of Honorary Knight was much simpler.

As long as a man under his command had sufficient military achievements, he could be granted the title.

Perhaps after the Wubei Territory’s next victory, he could consider a round of rewards for the knights under him.

Upon receiving Ronin’s affirmative answer, Karda finally dropped to one knee.

Before, he had no other choice. He could only linger around the Royal Knight Order, training hard while looking for an opportunity to join.

But he also knew that even if he joined the Royal Knight Order right now, he probably couldn’t accumulate enough merit in just over two years to be promoted from a commoner to an Honorary Knight.

But now, he had a better option.

Karda spoke solemnly, his voice firm and resonant, "Respected Count of Wubei, I, Karda, am willing to follow you. From this day forward, your will shall be my driving force!"

He had imagined a moment like this since he was twenty, but he never expected it would take five years to successfully pledge himself to a nobleman. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

’I hope this is a good start.’

A brilliant smile spread across Ronin’s face. He stepped forward and helped Karda up. "Welcome aboard, Karda. The Wubei Territory will be all the more brilliant with you!"

In the distance, Luther’s expression darkened as he witnessed the scene.

Logically, a territory in need of development would be most desperate for Gold Coins.

With Gold Coins, problems with supplies and population could be solved.

He couldn’t fathom why Ronin would make such a choice.

’Young people... always so impulsive.’

Missy, having changed into a lighter formal dress, appeared at Luther’s side and said softly, "Remember your promise, Father."

"Heh, of course I’ll remember."

Luther had a real headache when it came to this daughter of his. If she were the daughter of an ordinary family, he, as her father, could simply command her to submit to his will and enter an arranged marriage.

But to avoid his arrangements, Missy had trained day and night. Not only was her strength considerable, but she had also leveraged her friendship with Her Highness the Princess to successfully join the Griffin Knight Order.

As a result, even as her father, it wasn’t easy for him to force her hand.

"And you shouldn’t forget what the family has invested in you."

Luther said, slightly angered, "I still think the Wailun Clan is a more suitable match."

Missy sneered dismissively. "Based on the way he just scurried off with his tail between his legs? Father, are you getting senile?"

Luther remained noncommittal. He didn’t actually think much of Griffin, but he certainly thought highly of the Wailun Clan’s business empire.

Ronin and Karda talked for a while longer, mainly to arrange their plans for after the birthday banquet. He told Karda to prepare to leave Golden Feather City and Horn Bay.

Afterward, he returned to the banquet hall.

As soon as he arrived, he was greeted by a splendidly dressed Blanche. "I’ve been looking for you for ages! I thought you’d left early."

"I had to step out to take care of something."

Ronin said with a smile, "You’re even more confident and beautiful tonight."

Blanche’s cheeks flushed slightly. "Thank you for the compliment."

She walked up and took Ronin’s arm. "Come, my Champion Knight, I want to introduce you to a few people."

"Oh?"

Ronin followed, puzzled.

Soon, the two of them entered a lounge.

The moment he walked in, Ronin smelled perfume. He quickly scanned the room and realized it was filled with women.

He was completely baffled. ’What did Blanche bring me here for?’

"Here, here, our Flame Knight has finally arrived!"

A noblewoman shouted as soon as she saw Ronin approach.

Instantly, all the noblewomen in the room swarmed toward him. The scene was so startling that he subconsciously thought Blanche had rounded up a bevy of women for him.

One by one, the noblewomen introduced themselves. They were the wives of this Baron or that Viscount, or the daughters of some official or another—in any case, they were all from the aristocratic circle.

"You need clothes made of silk?"

Ronin finally understood why Blanche had brought him here.

To be honest, he had indeed wanted to promote his silk products through Blanche, but he’d been worried that the shawl alone wouldn’t be impressive enough to make a strong first impression.

He never expected Blanche to give him such an incredible surprise.

"Yes, Lord Count, I’d like a shawl like that too."

"If it’s possible, I’d like a dress made of silk!"

"A formal gown, and could I get a few casual outfits for daily wear as well?"

One after another, the noblewomen and young ladies stated their requests.

As Ronin listened, his smile grew wider and wider.

"Of course! The silk produced in the Wubei Territory this year can absolutely meet all of your demands!"

It was already the end of September. The cocoons in Purple Fruit Village had all been harvested, and Leia and the others should be busy reeling and weaving the silk.

Two to three hundred thousand cocoons could produce over a hundred articles of clothing, more than enough to satisfy the needs of the noblewomen and young ladies before him.

However, Ronin hadn’t yet decided how much to charge for a silk gown or outfit.

’Rarity determines value.’ He figured these noblewomen already had a certain price range in mind anyway.

So, he set a starting price of fifty Gold Coins for a silk gown, with the final price depending on the style of the garment.

The noblewomen weren’t the least bit frightened by this price; they all wanted to place an order.

And so, the lounge transformed into an office.

Ronin took a pen and paper and recorded everyone’s requests one by one, promising to deliver the goods to Golden Feather City by June of next year.

After the noblewomen had left, completely satisfied, Ronin looked at the list of orders for a full eighty different garments. He couldn’t help but pull Blanche into his arms and capture her lips in a long kiss.

He only pulled away when the woman in his arms went limp, her cheeks flushed crimson.

Blanche couldn’t help but glance toward the door, chiding him, "What if someone saw us?"

"Don’t worry, I have excellent hearing."

Ronin said with a laugh, "You’re amazing! You landed me such a huge order in one go!"

By his calculation, if this entire order on the paper was sold successfully, he would earn at least four thousand Gold Coins.

Don’t look down on four thousand Gold Coins just because Ronin’s championship prize was as high as Fifty Thousand Gold Coins.

After all, the former was a one-time, unrepeatable event, whereas the latter was not only sustainable, but he also believed that through these noblewomen and young ladies trying on and promoting the clothes, Ronin’s silk business would be even more prosperous and successful next year.

For Ronin, all that was left to do was to have Horn proactively expand the planting of Mulberry Seedlings to obtain more silk, and then arrange for more weavers, tailors, and others to increase production capacity.

Blanche grew bold, wrapping her arms around Ronin’s neck and saying with a smile, "I helped you out so much. You’ll have to thank me properly."

"Alright, alright, I’ll thank you properly right now!"

Ronin grinned mischievously and lowered his head once more.